New 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' Trailer Has James Franco Stranded in Wonderland

November 15, 2012 02:11:56 GMT

A small-time circus magician, Franco's titular character is hurled to a vibrant fantasy world where his fate is changed and he becomes a real hero.

James Franco turns from zero to hero in a new trailer for "Oz: The Great and Powerful". Opened with scenes of Franco's lead character as a circus performer who dreams to be a "great man," the video then takes audience to his unexpected adventure in a fairytale world where everything is filled with fancy colors and fantastical creatures. There, he is believed to be the hero that could save the locals from being ruled by dark power.

Franco plays Oscar Diggs, the beloved character of L. Frank Baum's classic tale "Wizard of Oz". He's just a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, before being hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. Oscar thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking - that is until he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora and Glinda who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting.

Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity -and even a bit of wizardry- Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Franco discussed his role as Oz when attending the 2012 CinemaCon in Las Vegas last April. He said at that time, "I get to play all these sides of Americano - the idea of American heroes - part of cowboy, part of weird magician, part con-man, part romantic man. I really got to play everything from classic cinema."

Joining Franco in the fantasy movie are Mila Kunis as Theodora, Rachel Weisz as Evanora, and Michelle Williams as Glinda. "Spider Man" helmer Sam Raimi serves as the director with Mitchell Kapner penning the screenplay. The movie is slated for a March 8, 2013 release in theaters across the United States.